Blue Ridge Technology

Microsoft and Samsung team up to boost work phone security If the way your team members access work resources from their smartphones keeps you up at night, we’ve got good news: Microsoft and Samsung are teaming up to give a massive security boost to the smartphones people use at work. But of course there’s a catch: you have to use the right phones. Here’s what you need to know about this smarter way to secure your company’s data and digital assets. The Breakthrough: On-Device Attestation We won’t get too technical here, don’t worry— but the technology breakthrough underlying this change is something called on-device attestation. We’ve talked about passkeys and other advanced authentication methods before, and this is sort of like those, only even more intense. Basically, with on-device attestation, companies can see more deeply into the software and firmware on a phone to identify possible compromises, hacks, or other threats. There are other attestation tools out there, but they all r...

Is that Microsoft email actually a phishing attack? Phishing attacks come from all sorts of places. But where they actually come from isn’t something you need to spend time worrying about: they’re all bad, and unless you’re a security expert yourself, the actual source of the threat isn’t going to change what you do about it. What’s even scarier is where phishing attacks appear to come from . And a recent report shows that the #1 “source” for Q2 2023 is one of the most trusted brands in business. We’ll break down what this threat means and what you can do about it — but let’s start with a quick refresher on phishing in general. What Is Phishing, Again? Phishing attacks are digital attacks that dangle some kind of bait out there, hoping to get you to bite. Usually these take the form of an email (or text message or even social message) that appears to be from a trusted brand or trusted source, like your bank or even your boss. That email alerts you to some kind of problem, usually one ...

Google Calendar has a great update for hybrid workers If you’re using Google Calendar for any part of your business, you’ll want to know about some recent productivity enhancements Google has added to Google Workspace (formerly G Suite, Google’s cloud-based office suite). Even if you don’t — maybe you’re a Microsoft 365 and Outlook Calendar kind of organization — it might be worth taking a look at the ways Google is taking leaps forward in terms of productivity. That’s especially true if you have a remote or hybrid workforce. Let’s dive in — here’s what you need to know. Location Sharing Got an Upgrade Back in 2021, in response to the influx of remote workers brought on by the pandemic, Google introduced workplace location sharing in Google Calendar. It was (and still is) a handy way to let your colleagues know some context about where you’re operating. If you’re in a different time zone or working from home while tending to kids, now there’s a subtle way to inform your coworkers that ...

3 ways AI makes almost any business task easier Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Bard, and others have made huge waves over the past year, and for good reason. These tools can do some really cool stuff. A lot of the viral headline type applications aren’t particularly useful for business. It’s cool that ChatGPT can write a Shakespearean sonnet about microwaves, but it’s probably not going to change your daily routine. But some professionals are finding novel and tremendously helpful ways to use these tools. This week, we’ll show you three ways you might start leveraging these tools in your daily business routines and workflows. One Big Caveat Now all of this comes with one gigantic caveat: ChatGPT isn’t sentient. That means you shouldn’t trust it to make decisions or give advice that would be obvious to humans. Just like you wouldn’t take Siri or Alexa’s responses as gospel truth, you shouldn’t assume everything in generative AI responses is completely accurate or actionable. T...

Is this the ultimate browser for business? Microsoft is out with another new business-friendly tool: Edge for Business . It may not be the most dramatic, awe-inspiring name for a new piece of software, but it’s a pretty significant development — one that could be a big help to your business, in the right circumstances. So what is Microsoft Edge for Business? And what are the reasons a business should — or shouldn’t — switch? What is Microsoft Edge for Business? Microsoft Edge for Business is pretty much what it sounds like: it’s a version of Microsoft’s Edge web browser, but built specifically for business customers rather than at-home consumers. Benefits of Switching to Edge for Business Edge for Business delivers a lot of value in the right circumstances. Here are a few exclusive features or benefits you’ll have access to if you switch. Separation between Work and Personal Browsing One of the big new features is a “wall of separation” between personal and work browsing. With an incre...

The hidden dangers of free VPNs: Are you at risk? Do you use a VPN to keep your data secure when browsing the web? Or does your business use one as part of its access management plan? Even if you’re not sure, the answer to that second question might be “yes”: Many businesses pivoted to VPNs during COVID as a quick and relatively safe way for people to access server resources from home. If you’re using a VPN, whether for personal or professional reasons, the thinking goes that you’re a whole lot safer and more secure because of it. But it turns out not all VPNs are created equal, and some of them might be doing the opposite of keeping you safe. Here’s what you need to know about using VPNs, including what to watch out for if you do. What Is a VPN? The acronym VPN stands for “virtual private network.” It’s a way of connecting your computer to an online resource by way of another connection point. Virtual private networks act as a middleman for internet or network traffic: instead of a c...

Scary stat: 87% of businesses hit by this in the last year Do you interact with customers via the web? Do you sell products online? If so, you’re technically a web-based business (even if you have lots and lots of “offline” business too). And you need to know about this scary statistic from the previous year. CDNetworks performed a massive analysis of more than 45 billion cyberattack attempts during 2022. Its findings were both sobering and encouraging. But let’s start with this 87%. Based on the title alone, would you think we’re about to say 87% of businesses faced an attempted cyberattack in 2022? Good guess, and we wish that was all. But no: CDNetworks found that 87% of web-based businesses faced two or more cyber threats at the same time ! What’s worse, 65% encountered “three or more simultaneous threats.” If you think your business is immune to cyberattack attempts, think again. Now let’s get into the data and figure out what all this means for you. Good News: Billions of Attack...